Event: Rally del Paraguay | Round: 11/14 | Date: 27-30 August

KEY EVENT STATS

• Surface: Gravel
• Base: Encarnación
• Stages: 22
• Competitive Distance: 358.88 km
• Total Distance: 937.76 km

WEEKEND FOCUS

• Returning to the championship after its thrilling debut last year, Rally del Paraguay promises another vibrant edition for 2026, which will kick off with Wednesday evening’s opening celebrations.
• Crews will navigate the red-earth, soft gravel stages and technical sections, whilst staying wary of sudden rain showers which can quickly change the profile of the roads. Adaptability is key to managing the frequent surface changes, changing temperatures, and visibility levels as preceding crews leave dust clouds in their wake.
• Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy return to Paraguay after enjoying its first edition in 2025. Despite a mechanical issue on Saturday hampering their overall progress, the Irish pair delivered a consistent drive throughout the opening day, and reached seventh overall before retiring. Building on this experience of the unique stages, the duo aim to take on the event at full pace.
• Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne’s maiden Rally1 season has been defined by firsts, and next week will mark their competitive debut on the South American continent. Buoyed by their recent gravel pace in Estonia and Finland, the pair are prepared for three weeks of discovery ahead.
• Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja embark on the same voyage of discovery in the Ford Fiesta Rally2, also making their Paraguay and Chile debuts in the coming weeks. After an impressive performance on Rally Finland, finishing fifth in WRC2, the Estonian duo will aim to make more positive steps in the Rally2 car.

Richard Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said: “We have an exciting few weeks ahead of us, starting with Rally del Paraguay next week. This event impressed us all last year on its debut, and I’m sure it won’t fail to impress us again with another stunning opening ceremony and some really interesting competitive stages.

“The next few weeks will demand a lot from everyone, crews and team members alike, but it’s such a pleasure to compete on these back-to-back events in South America. Let’s see what adventures await us.”

CREW LINE-UP
FORD PUMA RALLY1
#55 / Josh McErlean & Eoin Treacy

• Rally Paraguay 2025 result: 29th WRC (SR)
• Rally Finland 2026 result: 7th WRC
• Current championship position: 10th WRC

Josh McErlean said: “Heading back to Paraguay gives us a good opportunity to build on everything we learned there last year. Having that experience and a better understanding of the stages and conditions should put us in a stronger position from the start.“Finland was a positive weekend for us, and we want to carry that momentum into South America. We’re into the final part of the season now, so the focus is on continuing our progress and finishing the year strongly.”

#95 / Jon Armstrong & Shane Byrne

• Armstrong will make his first appearance at Rally del Paraguay
• Rally Finland 2026 result: 46th WRC (SR)
• Current championship position: 13th WRC

Jon Armstrong said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of rallying in a new continent once again. Having never been to South America, it will be amazing to sample the roads for the first time. We’re looking to take a more steady approach with the upcoming events, whilst using our road position to our advantage. It’s nice to be coming back to WRC off the back of a victory at the Grampian Rally – which is a real confidence boost – and we’ll continue to work on our progress as we return to the Puma Rally1 for the remainder of the year.”

FORD FIESTA RALLY2
#39 / Romet Jürgenson & Siim Oja

• Jürgenson will make his first appearance at Rally del Paraguay
• Rally Finland 2026 result: 5th WRC2
• Current championship position: 21st WRC2

Romet Jürgenson said: “Paraguay is going to be something new for me again, and it’ll be the first time ever going to South America as well, so there is a lot to discover. But from what I remember watching from home last year, it looked like a very nice rally with a great atmosphere, and I think as an overall experience it’s going to be something very unique. 
“We have had a bit of time to prepare and understand what is needed for this kind of event, and I think it’s important to get the knowledge from this rally to allow us to hopefully compete at the top level of the sport some day.”